The next day, in the evening.
Even though the place was quiet, the area in front of Wang Han's Divine Might General's Mansion was bustling with activity today, like a busy market, and even completely blocked.
Officials' sedan chairs, carriages, and porters carrying heavy loads of gifts poured into the mansion of General Shenwei like crowded fish, moving step by step.
"The Master often sent a pair of jadeite discs of icy quality, thirty bolts of silk and brocade, five bolts of satin, and a gold ingot that was three inches high and weighed five catties."
"Lord Huai presented me with a precious sword, five sets of fine armor, five good horses, and five bows."
"The Grand Master of Ceremonies sent a hundred chickens and ducks, five sheep, one ox, a land deed, and ten acres of fertile land."
"The magistrate of Qingzhou delivered 20 shi of grain, a stone sculpture 5 feet 3 inches tall, two oxen, 20 taels of gold, 200 taels of silver, a land deed, and 20 mu of fertile land."
"The Prime Minister sent a piece of jade, which is twelve feet tall and eight feet three inches wide, along with one hundred bolts of cloth, thirty sheep, and one golden sparrow."
"General Zhonglang sent the army one hundred long sticks, one hundred stone locks, one hundred loads of fodder, and one hundred iron chains."
"Imperial Physician Chang sent a three-hundred-year-old ginseng and a pair of five-hundred-year-old lingzhi mushrooms. He also sent several other medicinal herbs and a pharmacology apprentice."
"Imperial Physician Wen delivered a load of various herbs, five sets of medical equipment, and three packs of silver needles."
"The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue sent three hunting dogs, five puppies, one hundred ornamental fish of various kinds, twenty birds, and a considerable amount of dog food, fish food, and bird food."
"The Imperial Guard General delivered ten loads of firewood, rice, oil, and salt, and forty loads of grain."
"The Crown Prince sent twenty maids, thirty bolts of silk and satin, one fine horse, four warhorses, and one carriage."
"Eunuch Zhou presented me with ten sets of books, three rare paintings and calligraphy pieces, and ten jade vases of various kinds."
"Lord Zhou sent ten ornamental trees and fifty potted ornamental flowers."
"General Zhong sent fifty steel swords, fifty shields, and fifty spears."
At the entrance of General Shenwei's mansion, a dozen servants and hundreds of maids bustled about, greeting the officials who entered. Several literate stewards stood at the gate, handing each official a gift list. Upon receiving each list, the stewards would loudly read aloud the names of the gifts, word for word, before carefully putting the lists away. The gifts were then carried to the back courtyard by servants and porters.
These ministers' blatant gift-giving, especially since many of the gifts exceeded their means, was naturally with Emperor Huizong's tacit approval. However, they didn't dare to go too far over the top.
"Your Highness, did the ministers hold a meeting before deciding on the gifts?" In the main hall where guests were being received, Wang Han asked the Crown Prince speechlessly, listening to the shouts outside the door.
The gifts sent left Wang Han speechless. The ministers had gone to great lengths to send the gifts, taking into account that Wang Han had just moved into the mansion.
Gold and silver jewelry, calligraphy and paintings, musical instruments and chess pieces, fine swords and horses, antiques and rare objects, not to mention maids and servants, these are common gifts given by high-ranking officials.
The mansion's gardens, pavilions, rockeries, pets, trees, flowers, birds, and ornamental fish were all considered normal. But what was truly remarkable was the attention provided: guard dogs, military batons for the gatekeepers, armor for the soldiers guarding the gate, longbows for hunting, horses and carriages for outings, plowing fields, oxen for plowing, and even the mansion's meager food supplies. Even more extravagantly, the servants' food, clothing, and daily necessities, the mules' and horses' fodder, and the birds' feed were all provided. Even illnesses were taken care of.
Well, Wang Han understood that the Song Dynasty would send such gifts, so he didn't say anything. But to even consider the food, clothing, and daily necessities of the servants sent by others in advance, wasn't that sending too much? Had it been discussed in advance, or was it ordered by the emperor?
After moving into the Divine Might General's mansion, these ministers started sending him whatever he needed, regardless of whether Wang Han actually required it. They figured that once they finished sending everything, Wang Han—no, the entire Divine Might General's mansion—would have everything he needed, with some even left over. After all, they even sent cages for wild beasts. Didn't they even bother to find out if Wang Han needed cages for his pets? Could those cages even hold all of Wang Han's pets?
"This is everyone's thoughtfulness!" Hearing Wang Han's complaint, the Crown Prince said with an awkward smile. They really did hold a meeting before choosing the gift.
“Many of these items are important military equipment, such as longbows and armor. Is it appropriate to send them like this?” Wang Han asked again.
"General Shenwei is too kind. Although these are important military items, this is General Shenwei's residence, so naturally these are necessary." Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince's smile became even more awkward.
"Were the rare and precious treasures that some ministers sent beyond their means?" Wang Han asked again.
"Many ministers have their own family wealth and lineage, or even their own families, often spanning several generations, or even more than ten generations," the Crown Prince explained with a forced explanation.
"I see. Is it like the powerful clans of the Han Dynasty? I remember the families of Sun Jian and Yuan Shu were indeed quite wealthy." Upon hearing this, Wang Han asked again, while casually revealing a bit of information to the Crown Prince. The benefit of doing this was that the Crown Prince would actively gravitate towards him and try to win him over, which would undoubtedly make things much easier for him in court. Other emperors might not work, but Emperor Huizong of Song and the Crown Prince, who could bestow titles upon him, would definitely fall into the trap.
“The Han Dynasty back then. I remember.” The Crown Prince astutely grasped the key point in Wang Han’s words. However, the Crown Prince did not make any noise, at least not now, and said with a smile, “Those aristocratic families were indeed quite wealthy, and they all had their own businesses.”
"Oh, I see! Then I don't feel any pressure accepting these gifts." Wang Han said with a smile, looking relieved.
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